Iran executes its first anti-government protester since unrest began
Iran has confirmed the first execution of a protester who was convicted over the long-running anti-government protests.
The country has been in complete disarray since mid-September when Masha Amini, a 22-year-old woman, died in hospital three days after being arrested for allegedly breaking strict dress code laws.
This led to mass protests across the western Asian country, with at least 475 people having been killed and 18,000 others arrested, according to the watchdog Human Rights Activist in Iran.
But now, Iran has officially announced they have killed Mohsen Shekari after he was found guilty by a Revolutionary Court of 'moharebeh' (enmity against God).
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Shekari was hanged on Thursday morning (8 December), according to state media.
He was sent down after been accused of being a 'rioter' who blocked a main road in Iran's capital Tehran back in September.
Shekari was also claimed to have wounded a member of a paramilitary force with a machete.
One activist said Shekari was not given a fair trial and was convicted after a 'show trial without any due process'.
Other activists have expressed their concerns about the man's execution, with some worried that this may be the start of many more to come.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, said in a statement: "The international community must immediately and strongly react to this execution.
"If Mohsen Shekari's execution is not met with serious consequences for the government, we will face mass execution of protesters."
Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad said on Twitter: "He was only 23 years old. This morning, just before sunrise, the Islamist regime in Iran executed #MohsenShekari, a protester they had arrested in #Tehran.
"Mohsen gave his life for freedom. He wanted a normal life. One more brave soul killed by this bloody regime."
Meanwhile, the UK's Foreign Secretary James Cleverley added: "Outraged by the tragic news of the first execution of a protestor in Iran.
"The world cannot turn a blind eye to the abhorrent violence committed by the Iranian regime against its own people."
"The UK is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances."
On 1 November, the court found Shekari guilty of fighting and drawing a weapon 'with the intention of killing, causing terror and disturbing the order and security of society' - according to the judiciary's Mizan news agency.
The agency added Shekari appealed the verdict, but it was upheld by the supreme court on 20 November.
The judiciary has also announced that ten other people have been sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.
Callum Jones